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MR PRESIDENT, I HAVE EXPLAINED THAT
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1994
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WE DO HAVE A DAYA BAY CONTINGENCY PLAN;
·
WE
DO NOT NEED TO INCLUDE MEASURES FOR SHELTERING PART OF HONG KONG OTHER THAN PING CHAU;
IN ANY
WE WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF ANY OFF-SITE EMERGENCY AT THE GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION CONSEQUENCES FOR HONG KONG; AND
MAY THAT
HAVE
WE HAVE EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL, THEREFORE, ABSTAIN FROM MOTION AND VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THE AMENDED MOTION.
THE
MAIN
THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.
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MOTION TO PUT UP RATES PASSED
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION TO INCREASE RATES BY 20 PER CENT IN EACH OF THE FINANCIAL YEARS 1994/95 AND 1995/96.
MOVING THE MOTION TO AMEND THE RATING ORDIANNCE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID THE RATEABLE VALUES OF ALL PROPERTIES HAD ON AVERAGE INCREASED BY 33 PER CENT, REFLECTTING THE INCREASE IN THEIR RENTAL VALUES FROM JULY 1, 1990 TO JULY 1, 1993.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THIS PERCENTAGE WAS IN LINE WITH OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND BELOW THE RISE IN PROPERTY
INFLATION PRICES.
SIR HAMISH REITERATED THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE GENERAL REVALUATION WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE RATES BURDEN FELL EQUITABLY AMONG RATEPAYERS IN PROPORTION TO THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES.
HE SAID WHILE THE RATEABLE VALUES HAD CHANGED AS A RESULT OF THE REVALUATION EXERCISE, THE OVERALL RATES PERCENTAGE CHARGE REMAINED AT 5.5 PER CENT AS IN 1993/94.
THE PROPOSED 20 PER CENT CAP ON RATES INCREASE FOR TWO YEARS INTENDED то REDUCE THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF THE GENERAL REVALUATION, HE SAID.
WAS
"THE EFFECT OF THIS MEASURE IS THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT WHICH INDIVIDUAL RATEPAYERS WILL BE ASKED TO PAY WILL BE NO MORE THAN 20 PER CENT ABOVE WHAT WAS PAID IN 1993/94.
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"SIMILARLY THE MAXIMUM PAYMENT IN 195/96 WILL BE NO MORE THAN 20 PER CENT ABOVE THE AMOUNT PAYABLE IN 1994/95."
/HE SAID